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The Oracle and the bus journey to it

Favorite thing:
I've always loved Greek mythology and the Oracle of Delphi was always one of those things I had to see before I die. Anyway, the bus journey from Athens to Delphi is quite something by itself! it takes about 3h (the last bus is around 6pm and everyone always gets that one) and when you start leaving the capital you see those high mountains in the distance. I fell asleep and when I woke I was in the same level as the clouds! In this very steep roads without any protection on the sideways. I thought I was going to die and the bus fall from a cliff at every turn, nearly had a heart attack! (and I remember clearly the lady in the seat next to me holding her boyfriend's hand as if it was the end of the world).

Delphi itself is quite small and the main sight is a bit further down the main road. IT'S AMAZING! One of my favourite things about Greece, definitely. To sit there and look at those ruins, to imagine that wars and lives were defined by the belief that a woman was possessed by a god was telling the only truth.

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Climbing all those stairs

Favorite thing:
The one thing that you have to realize when you visit Delphi is that you need to be fairly fit as there are many stairs to be climbed in order to move from one street to the next. That is in new Delphi

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Modern Delphi History Background

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In medieval times Delphi was also called Kastri and was built on the archaeological site. The residents had used the marble columns and structures as support beams and roofs for their improvised houses.

Archaeological research in Delphi began in 1860 by Germans. In 1891 the Greek government granted the French School at Athens permission for long-term excavations on the site. This village had to be relocated before a systematic excavation of the site could be undertaken. The opportunity to relocate the village was presented when it was substantially damaged by an earthquake, with villagers offered a completely new village in exchange for the old site.

In 1893 the French Archaeological School removed vast quantities of soil from numerous landslides to reveal both the major buildings and structures of the sanctuary of Apollo and of Athena Proaea along with thousands of objects, inscriptions and sculptures. The village was moved to a new location, west of the site of the temples.

Delphi was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1987.

Fondest memory:
You may learn more wikipedia.org/wiki/Delphi.

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Ancient Delphi History Background

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Excavations reveal that Delphi was first inhabited in late Mycenaean times (as early as the 15th century BC), and that priests from Knossos on Crete brought the cult of Apollo to Delphi in the 8th century BC.Regarded as the center of the world and the dwelling place of Apollo, Delphi attracted pilgrims from across the ancient world. The oracle of Delphi was a spiritual experience whereby the spirit of Apollo was asked for advice on critical matters relating to people's lives or affairs of the state. Questions were asked to the Pythia, or priestess who 'channeled' the spirit of the God.

Generals, kings, and individuals of all ranks came to the Oracle of Delphi to ask Apollo's advice on the best course to take in war, politics, love and family. After the inquirer made a sacrifice the Pythia uttered cryptic pronouncements which were then translated by a priest.As the reputation of the oracle at Delphi grew, the sanctuary began to develop into an international center as the Greek city-states brought offerings.In Roman times, the sanctuary was favored by some emperors and plundered by others, including Sulla in 86 BC.

The Byzantine emperor Theodosius finally abolished the oracle and the Slavs destroyed the precinct in 394 BC. With the advent of Christianity, Delphi became an episcopal see, but was abandoned in the sixth-seventh centuries AD. Soon after, in the seventh century AD, a new village, Kastri, grew over the ruins of the ancient sanctuary.

You may watch 6 min 49 sec VIDEO-Clip Greece Delphi Sanctuary Slide-show out of my YouTube Channel with popular Greek music by Vangelis.

You may watch the Sanctuary reconstruction at my first photo and how this place looks like now (second and third photos).

Fondest memory:
You may learn more olympia-greece.org/delphi

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Mythological Delphi Background

Favorite thing:
For the ancient Greeks, Delphi was quite literally the center of the world. According to Greek myth, Zeus released two eagles from opposite ends of the earth and they met in the sky above Delphi. Impaling one another with their beaks, they fell to the ground on the very center of the world. The site was marked by the Omphalos, or "navel" stone.

According to legend, the serpent Python was the ancient guardian of Delphi's Castalian Spring before he was killed by Apollo. Python was the son of the Greek goddes Gea, "Earth". Even before the area was associated with Apollo there were other deities worshipped here including the earth goddess Gea, Themis, Demeter and Poseidon, the well known god of the sea.

By the end of the Mycenaean period Apollo had displaced these other deities and became the guardian of the oracle.

Delphi Area Nature Background

Favorite thing:
The Pan-Hellenic sanctuary of Delphi lies at the foot of Mount Parnassos, within the angle formed by the twin rocks of the Phaedriades ("the shining ones") ca 700 m high. This semicircular spur overlooks the Pleistos (today Xeropotamos) formed by Parnasse and Mt. Cirphis. Between them rises the Castalian Spring.

Even today the rock faces reflect a dazzling glare.

Southwest of Delphi, about 15 km away, is the Corinthian Gulf.

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TREASURY OF THE ATHENIANS

Favorite thing:
One of the most impressive structures in the Delphi complex, in my opinion, was the TREASURY OF THE ATHENIANS. This small Doric temple, built of Parian marble was built in 487 B.C. in gratitude to the gods for the victory over the Persians at Marathon in 490 B.C. It is located along the "Sacred Way".

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SITE OF GREECE'S MOST FAMOUS ORACLE

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Located 278 km (110 miles) north-west of Athens.Mount Parnassus is where Greece's most famous ancient Oracle and most beautiful site DELPHI is located.The ancient Greeks believed that Delphi was the center of the world. Apollo chose this spot as the home of its most famous Oracle. Pilgrims came to Delphi from all over the Greek world to ask Apollo's advice on affairs of state as well as personal matters.According to legend, when Zeus wanted to determine the earth's center, he released two eagles from Olympus. When the eagles met over Delphi, he had his answer.Delphi was also the site of the Pythian Games, the most famous festival in Greece after the Olympics.

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DELPHI - ANCIENT SANCTUARY OF THE GOD APOLLO

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The ancient sanctuary of the God Apollo, DELPHI is perhaps the most famous site in classical Greece. Here you will see the Doric Temple of Apollo, the Castalian Springs, The Athenian Treasury and the Museum with its many archaeological treasures such as the Bronze Charioteer of Delphi.Archaelogical research has shown that the area of Delphi was inhabited at least from the Mycenaean period - 14th to 11th century B.C. Towards the end of the 7th century B.C. the first stone temples were built - one dedicated to Apollo and the other to the goddess Athena.

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Take your time to enjoy the beauty

Favorite thing:
A good advice is to come early and check the time table for when the museum is open. We spend around 4 hours on seeing the upper site going down we planed to see the museum. But the museum was closed at that time we got down. Well then we had a nice time chatting with the warden, at the lower site with the gymnasium and the Tholos.

Missing to visit the museum, makes a good excuse to do a revisit of Delphi.

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How Delphi got its name .... and other myths

Favorite thing:
Apollo, the son of Dzeus and goddess Leto decided to take revenge on Python, an enormous dragon that harassed his mother. Python lived in the caves of Parnas and guarded the temple of Gaia - mother of gods. After Apollo killed Python, the place was called Delphoi, because the god came from Crete in the shape of dolphin.Obviously, the deed was punished - Apollo had to leave Olymp. His exile lasted for a year. He went to the valley of Tempi. Here he fell in love with Daphne - a beautiful nymph. She rejected his affection and full of fear ran away. The god was just about to catch her when she changed into the bush of laurel. Apollo was quite disappointed; he made himself a laurel wreath and wearing it on his head he came back to Parnassos, where he looked for consolation among Muses - his lovely companions.Laurel, called Daphne by Greeks, became his favourite plant.

Fondest memory:
I decided to read Greek mythology before going to Greece. At school I hadn't found it very interesting, but now it was different. The myths help you understand ancient times and people who lived then. At every step you come across names and ideas that are so deep-rooted in mythology, that without knowing them your perception of this fascinating country can't be full.

The History of Delphi

Favorite thing:
The first traces of inhabitation in the region of Delphi go back to Mycenaean times (14th - 11th c. BC). At this period, the main deity worshipped at the small settlement was Ge ("Earth"). In the following period (11th - 9th c. BC) the cult of Apollo became established at Delphi, when the god installed himself there, having first killed the Python, the snake that guarded the oracle of Ge. During the 8th and 7th c. BC, the sanctuary of Delphi too shaped. The first stone temples were built towards the end of the 7th c. BC, one dedicated to Apollo and the other to Athena.

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Nafpaktos

Favorite thing:
There are numerous beaches and coves along the coast below Delphi and heading west towards Nafpaktos. But Nafpaktos is one of the most interesting towns in the area and has perhaps the most impressive castle in Greece after Nafplio. The town has a beautiful fortified harbor and main square. There are two long attractive beaches on either side of the harbor and lots of restaurants, cafes and hotels.

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